The Six Nations Chiefs have given their
transition game a shot of adrenaline, acquiring Jesse Gamble
from the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks in exchange for Mat MacLeod,
Corey Fowler and other considerations. Gamble is one of the
best transition players in lacrosse. He finished second in IL
Indoor's voting for National Lacrosse League Transition Player of the
Year and in 2011 was named Major Series Lacrosse's top defender. The
lefty played primarily offence for most of that season and scored 45
points, but switched to defence when John Lovell took over as
head coach and shone in the role immediately. Lovell is also the
25-year-old Gamble's coach with the Toronto Rock, where he had a
breakout season in 2013, showing outstanding defensive improvement
and continuing to impact games with his blazing speed.
The Kodiaks are getting some talent in
return. MacCleod is a skilled righty who can contribute anywhere on
the floor. He plays primarily a transition role but is capable enough
to play regularly in the offensive zone as well, as he has proved
with his growing role with the Colorado Mammoth. MacLeod and Gamble
were teammates from 2006-09 with the Orangeville Northmen, where they
won a pair of Minto Cups. MacLeod racked up 185 points in four
seasons with the Northmen and has totalled 43 points the last two
seasons in Colorado.
The 22-year-old Fowler was the leading
scorer in CLax this year and was named the top rookie and most
outstanding player in the league. He tallied 32 goals and 48 assists
for 80 points, a new CLax record, in 14 games. Fowler is a small but
waterbug-quick righty who scored 4 goals for Six Nations in their
tight loss to the Brooklin Redmen earlier this week. He is currently
also playing for his hometown St. Catharines Saints Sr B team.
